Wondering whether to add knobs or handles?

Let your imagination run wild. There are no set rules for selecting hardware or deciding what style to use.

"It's individual taste," said Robert Lando, a vice president of Community Home Supply Co., a plumbing supply and kitchen design company in Chicago. "You can find styles for virtually any taste and pocketbook."

Knobs typically are round or the surface is twisted into several swirls or it has multiple sides. Some are made of brass, chrome, glass or crystal or have a frosted look.

Handles are cylinder shaped and are parallel with the cabinet surface, have an arch or hang down against the cabinet.

Some home owners use knobs throughout the kitchen or mix and match knobs and handles. "If you're dealing with something like forks, knives and spoons or fruits and vegetables, it's not uncommon to have different hardware on each door," Lando said. "In more traditional hardware, it's usually a knob on the door and a pull on the drawer."

Let’s get practical

Before you let style carry you away, consider whether the hardware:

·         has small openings or ornate surfaces that would create discomfort when used frequently

·         is too heavy for small children or those with physical ailments or disabilities

·         has nooks and crannies that would be difficult to clean

·         would be too tempting for children to pull up on

If you're going to choose pulls that require two holes being added in the cabinet, you have to be sure that's a style you want for the life of the cabinet. Many opt for knobs because they can easily be unscrewed and change later.

If you change your mind later, it's easy to change the hardware and create a whole new look!